First Graded Victory on the Line in Santa Jezebel Stakes

By: Littlebit

Thirteen freshly turned three year old fillies will take to the California dirt on New Year’s Day in the Santa Jezebel Stakes and all looking for their first graded victory.  The morning line has four fillies set at odds of 6/1 making no clear cut favorite and providing plenty of betting opportunities for gamblers.  Also in the race are four daughters of Triple Crown winners, one for American Pharoah and three for Justify.  It is time to breakdown the field and attempt to find our winner.

PP 1,  6/1  Cyberia, 3yr, Filly, (Trippi x Tale of Ekati x Johannesburg)

Trainer: lawdro10

                Breaking from post position 1 is the daughter of Trippi, Cyberia, for trainer Lawdro10.  A two time stakes winner, her only attempt in graded company resulted in a sixth place finish on November 9 in the Grade 3 Mistaken Soda Identity Stakes.  Although she did not find the winners circle that day, it was her first try beyond 7 furlongs.  She returned a month later to win a listed stake going 8.5 furlongs, redeeming herself and posting a new career best 94.  If she can improve again she will be in the mix.

PP 2,  6/1  Explainable, 3yr, Filly, (Justify x Mr. Prospector x Danehill)  Scratchbred

Trainer: 47away

                The first of three Justify fillies in the race, the 47away trainee Explainable, will be entering the race after just missing the winners circle in the Grade 2 Golden Red Stakes by a quarter length.  In her last start she showed a clear desire and liking to the added ground as she posted a career best 95 in her first try beyond 7 furlongs.  Explainable started her career going 3 for 3 including a victory in listed stakes company before making the jump to Grade 1 competition in the Dell Computer Debutant where she finished third beaten only a half length.  In her two defeats she has shown heart and determination.  This filly has a strong chance to cross the wire first and should not be dismissed in the betting windows.

PP 3,  6/1  Zyndu, 3yr, Filly, (War Front x Awesome Again x Unbridled)

Trainer: given13

                Given13’s filly, Zyndu, is entering the race looking for win number 5 in a row.  Since breaking her maiden going a mile, the daughter of War Front hasn’t looked back rattling off wins in never won two and three allowance company before scoring in listed stake company last out with a 96 speed figure, the highest number in this field of 13.  In the listed stake win the filly was asked for everything she had to gut out a neck victory.  Proven at the distance of 8.5 furlongs and should she improve again, Zyndu looks to be the one to beat.

PP 4,  18/1  Tikaday, 3yr, Filly, (To Teras x Galileo (IRE) x Daiwa Major)

Trainer: thechef

                Thechef trainee, Tikaday, is an interesting filly in this race as she is looking to give her sire, To Teras, not only his first stakes winner, but first graded stakes winner. In a quick analysis of her pedigree, it will be her dam sire, Galileo (IRE), and dam dam sire, Daiwa Major, who will need to pass forward their talents on the track to help this filly find the winners circle on January 1.  Tikaday started her career with a first out win on the polytrack going 4.5 furlongs.  She followed that up with a fifth place finish in listed stake company on the turf before making the switch to dirt where she won an other than allowance.  Since then she has struggled to find the winners circle however she has been on the improve running an 87 going a mile last out in open allowance company.  I would be interested to see this filly make a return to the turf.  For now, she is a longshot to find the winners circle on Wednesday however she should be a useful filly for trainer thechef.

PP 5,  38/1  Mrs. Empire, 3yr, Filly, (Vadamos (FR) x Mr. Greeley x Empire Maker)

Trainer: lightng100

                By the up and coming stallion Vadamos (FR), Mrs. Empire, has been finding some success recently on the polytrack breaking her maiden in start number six in her first try on poly and first time stretching out to a mile.  Lightng100’s filly looks to be in tough company and will be looking to her dam dam sire, Empire Maker, to give her the boost she needs.  My money won’t be on this filly on Wednesday but I will be interested to see how she performs returning to dirt and adding the extra sixteenth of a mile.

PP 6,  9/1  Just Ring, 3yr, Filly, (Justify x Sebring x Galileo (IRE))  Scratchbred

Trainer: robd13

                The second of three Justify fillies in the field, robd13 sends out Just Ring who continues to search for her first stakes win.  Last out in listed stakes company, Just Ring turned in a strong performance finishing second by a length going a mile with a 95 speed figure.  The added sixteenth of a mile on Wednesday should play to this fillies liking and there is reason to believe she will take another step forward.  If you are looking to fill out your exotics I would not leave out this filly and don’t be surprised if this daughter of Justify finds the winners circle.

PP 7,  62/1  Jet Distorted, 3yr, Filly, (Jet Away (GB) x Teofilo x Distorted Humor)

Trainer: lostkey8

                The longest shot on the board is lostkey8’s Jet Distorted who will be making her first start around two turns.  The daughter of Jet Away (GB) didn’t break her maiden till try number 7 however she has shown steady improvement in her races at distances that seem less than ideal for her pedigree.  In her only try in stakes company she finished sixth going 5 furlongs.  While I wouldn’t use this filly in my wagering I do think the stretch out in distance will be to her liking.  Expect an improved effort.

PP 8,  12/1  Make A Pass T, 3yr, Filly, (More Than Ready x Raven’s Pass x Bernardini)

Trainer: seagypsy

                Making only the fourth start of her career, the lightest raced filly in the field, is seagypsy’s Make A Pass.  A promising daughter of More than Ready she sports a record of 2 wins in 3 starts and will be making her stakes debut.  The filly is already proven at the 8.5 furlong distance having won a never won two allowance last out posting a one and three quarter length victory and 93 speed figure.  A fast improving filly, I look forward to watching her in this race as she is the frontrunner for my longshot winner pick.

PP 9,  6/1  OG American A.P., 3yr, Filly, (American Pharoah x A.P. Indy x Blushing Groom)  Scratchbred

Trainer: baffrests

                A lightly raced and well bred daughter of American Pharoah, OG American A.P., looks to be a strong competitor in this race.  Never worse than third, the baffrests trainee finished second last out in her stakes debut, a listed event on October 27, going 8.5 furlongs.  This filly has continued to improve in her races and there is reason to believe she will continue to do so.  I look forward to seeing this filly continue to stretch out in distance and will strongly consider using her in the exotics, she has a legitimate chance to find the winners circle.

PP 10,  7/1  Dadies Little Girl, 3yr, Filly, (War Front x Seeking the Gold x Pulpit)  Scratchbred

Trainer: sansanfarm

                After a disappointing effort last out in the Grade 3 Happy Thanksgiving, sansanfarm trainee, Dadies Little Girl, will be looking to return to winning form.  The daughter of War Front found the winners circle two starts back in a listed stake event going a mile where she ran a huge race posting a 94 speed figure.  After the race she made her second attempt in graded company in the Happy Thanksgiving where she finished fourth posting an 85.  While the race saw her stretch from a mile to 8.5 furlongs, I don’t think the added distance should have caused her problem.  I will chalk it up to a bounce and expect her to turn in a better performance in this race.  The filly is one to consider using in the exotics however some may decide to toss her based on her last race.

PP 11,  7/1  Awesome Olympian, 3yr, Filly, (Awesome Again x Medaglia D’Oro x A.P. Indy)

Trainer: kf7

                A perfect 5 for 5 to start her career, the Awesome Again filly Awesome Olympian, fell short of a graded victory last out in the Grade 2 Golden Red Stakes where she finished fourth beaten four lengths.  Prior to that race she twice found the winners circle in listed stake company going 7 furlongs and 8.5 furlongs.  She has slowly been improving over the course of her career and I would expect her to make another step forward however I don’t think it will be enough to get her to the winners circle.  The kf7 trainee is one to watch in the future as I suspect she will continue to develop into a tough and competitive filly.

PP 12,  11/1  Town of Sorrows, 3yr, Filly, (Speightstown x A.P. Indy x Fusaichi Pegasus)

Trainer: akaran

                Out of Grade 1 winner Cool Indy and by top stallion Speightstown, Town of Sorrows, is looking to live up to the success of her dam.  Currently she owns two listed stakes wins and has begun the search for the graded victory.  Two races back, in her first try around two turns she comfortable won an 8.5 furlong listed stake posting a career best 90.  Off that success her trainer, akaran, decided to give her a shot in the Grade 1 Frickazee Stakes cutting back to a mile where she finished eighth.  That race was on October 5, nearly three months back.  After some freshening she returns to action. Don’t let the 11/1 morning line odds fool you, there is reason to believe this filly is looking to make a big improvement and worth consideration as a longshot in the exotics.

PP 13,  8/1  Define Justice, 3yr, Filly, (Justify x American Pharoah x A.P. Indy)

Trainer: sweet16

                The final daughter of Justify in the field is sweet16 trainee, Define Justice.  Her pedigree alone suggests she is one to keep an eye on.  Heading into this race she is riding a 3 race win streak and is 4 for 5 in her career.  Last out, and in her first try in listed stake company, Define Justice set the pace and cruised home to a two length victory.  She is also proven at 8.5 furlongs with her last two races coming at the distance.  I expect this filly to bounce right out to the lead and possibly encounter a speed duel with Town of Sorrows to her inside.  This filly is on the improve and while her numbers aren’t quite as good as some of the others, as long as she doesn’t bounce, she could find herself a winner.

Littlebit’s Picks: 13 – 3 – 2 – 8

Long Shot Winner: 8

Safe trips and best of luck to all the contenders!